Stick to the Flag: Saint-Gaudens’ Farragut Monument

A recasted Admiral Farragut monument is placed on the original base at Saint Gaudens National Historical Park

NPS Photo

Saint-Gaudens’ memorial of Admiral David Farragut was unveiled in New York City’s Madison Square Park in 1881. This monument put into bronze the life and legacy of one the greatest naval war heroes of the Civil War as well as led to Saint-Gaudens’ rapid rise to fame.

In 1876, John Quincy Adams Ward was awarded the commission to create an Admiral David Farragut memorial for New York City. Yet, he declined the commission to “give the younger man a chance.” As runner up, Augustus Saint-Gaudens was given the task to create the Farragut sculpture.

The Farragut Monument was the first major commission Saint-Gaudens received and it fueled his rise to fame. He was twenty-eight years old at the start of the project and completed it five years later. It was unveiled on May 26, 1881 in Madison Square Park, New York City.

Given Farragut’s importance as an American hero, Saint-Gaudens worked hard to achieve a monument that placed Farragut in the context of his accomplishments. After a sixty-year military career, Farragut left behind a legacy of strength, respect, honor, and leadership. Though embellished, Farragut is best known for saying, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead,” while fighting in Mobile Bay during the Civil War. During the years Saint-Gaudens worked on the piece, he interviewed Farragut’s widow and son and read as many accounts of the Admiral as he could.

David Glasgow Farragut was born in 1801 to a Spanish father and American mother. At nine years old, under the direction of his father, Farragut joined the United States Navy as a midshipman. His first experience of battle came during the War of 1812. At the conclusion of that war, he continued to serve in the Navy, moving up in rank, and overseeing other conflicts that the United States faced including pirates and the outbreak of the Mexican American War. He also headed the construction of the Mare Island Navy Yard in California in 1853.

When Farragut was fifty-nine years old, the American Civil War broke out. Though born in Tennessee and marrying a Virginian woman, Farragut said they must “stick to the Flag” and he moved from Virginia to New York. For about a year and a half, Farragut turned down combat commands but eventually his reputation as a skilled leader and the desperate need for commanders led Farragut to accept a post commanding the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

During his time as leader of this squadron, he captured New Orleans after taking on heavy enemy fire. From there, he secured Baton Rouge and supported the bombardment of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Considering New Orleans was the first major win for the Union Navy, and he was able to continue being successful during other battles, Farragut was the first to be given the rank of Vice Admiral in 1864.

On August 5, 1864, Farragut led the charge on Mobile Bay. With his fleet of eighteen ships, Farragut commanded the men along a path of active Confederate forts, land mines (which were sometimes called torpedoes), and against the ironclad CSS Tennessee. Though extremely dangerous, Farragut proved his leadership and honor to his men by visibly placing himself on the rigging of the ship during the conflict. After three hours of battle, the CSS Tennessee surrendered, and the Union Navy shut down the last remaining Confederate port in the Gulf of Mexico.

After the Civil War concluded, Farragut was the first Naval officer to be bestowed the rank of Admiral and continued to serve in the Navy until his death on August 14, 1870.

Saint-Gaudens’ Farragut Monument shows both the character and context of Farragut. He sculpted Farragut’s body in a strong stance but his uniform shows movement like the tough winds that Farragut faced in the Gulf of Mexico. His head is held high with confidence and yet a calmness shrouds the statue. Typical of Saint-Gaudens attention to detail, Farragut holds binoculars in his left hand and one of his coat buttons is undone to place a hand in.

Saint-Gaudens also created the bluestone pedestal for the monument along with his wife Augusta, brother Louis, and friend Stanford White. The pedestal features American allegories such as two women, Liberty and Courage, a brief description of Farragut’s life with the words “stick to the flag,” as well as an exedra for the public to sit.

In 1935, the original bluestone pedestal was replaced with a recreated pedestal made of studier granite and the City of New York sent the original base to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park where it was displayed. An additional Farragut Monument was then re-casted using the original molds and placed on top of the bluestone pedestal at the park in 1994. The original casted Farragut Memorial remains in New York City.